I am Loving the Speed

[Essex Johnson]

(06-13-2017, 08:28 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I'm going to watch all the games and cheer for the team regardless if they are good or not. I was still a fan regardless of Akili Smith or Ryan Fizpatrick being the starter, so my "true fan" status has been well paid off.

I just know two years ago the Colts tried this exact same approach. Stock up on offensive talent at the skill positions... Luck, Gore, Hilton, A Johnson, Fleener, Allen, use a first round pick on an undersized WR who was the fastest in their draft in Dorsett... and think that the skill positions will make up for having a putrid OL.

Luck ended up with a hurt right shoulder, a hurt ankle, lacerated kidney, and torn abdominal muscle. He had never missed a game prior, but played only 7 games that year. His hasn't really been truly healthy since then, and he had to get surgery on his throwing shoulder, traced back to the injury in the 2015 season. Luck still hasn't resumed throwing yet.

They call it a copycat league, but it is generally implied you are supposed to copy the good things, not the stupid things.

There are a few problems I see with your thinking.. Gore, Johnson were aged veterans that they signed neither worked out that well and neither had the speed that our draft picks are bring to this team..., ,, also don;t forget Richardson, they tried him briefly... ..   As for draft picks.. the Colts picked  3 lineman out of their first 4 picks in 2013/14.. after drafting Luck in 2012.. so I would not say they ignored the line before he got hurt... but you can argue that maybe they needed to look at a veteran lineman also... I just don;t see a very good comparison with the Bengals and Colts.. they went old at WR/RB we went young and fast there.  Also we have drafted two tackles early.. yes they have struggled but the foundation of level of play is way too early to judge yet and we did add a veteran in Smith to try to soften the blow of losing Whit and Zeitler.

Finally, the speed can help a subpar line.. speed is more than just going long.. quick screens, slants.. safety release out of backfield all are facets that can help protect a QB getting rushed.  I am not saying that our line is cured and could be a issue for sure.. but this draft was not a good draft for lineman and I believe they decided to induce speed into the equation and believed this will help the offense line better than drafting early lineman that probably would not have helped.